Veterans and Stress: The Brain Damage Connection

Written By Dr. Walker Porterfield

Honoring those who served this 2023 Veterans Day

Veterans Day 2023

Veterans often experience high levels of stress due to their deployment and combat experiences. This stress can build up and lead to damage to the brain, which can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Deployment Stress

Deployment stress is the stress that veterans experience before, during, and after deployment. It can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Separation from family and friends

  • Fear of injury or death

  • Uncertainty about the future

  • Exposure to violence and trauma

Combat Stress

Combat stress is the stress that veterans experience during combat. It can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Exposure to gunfire and explosions

  • Seeing people killed or injured

  • Having to make life-or-death decisions

  • Feeling responsible for the lives of others

Veteran with PTSD

Other Related Stressors

Veterans may also experience other stressors, such as:

  • Difficulty finding a job after deployment

  • Financial problems

  • Relationship problems

  • Housing problems

  • Legal problems

How Stress Damages the Brain

Stress can damage the brain in a number of ways. It can:

  • Reduce the production of new brain cells

  • Shrink the hippocampus, a brain region that is important for memory and learning

  • Damage the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is important for decision-making and impulse control

  • Disrupt the communication between different parts of the brain

HBOT for Veterans

TBI and PTSD

TBI and PTSD are two of the most common mental health conditions affecting veterans.

TBI is a brain injury that is caused by a jolt or blow to the head. It can cause a variety of symptoms, including headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat. Symptoms of PTSD can include anxiety, depression, nightmares, flashbacks, and avoidance of triggers.

HBOT For Brain Injury

SPECT Brain imaging scan of TBI/PTSD inflicted Veteran. Red is blood vessel growth

HBOT for PTSD

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The increased oxygen pressure helps to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain while decreasing inflammation. This can help to heal damaged brain tissue and improve brain function.

HBOT has been shown to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and nightmares. It has also been shown to improve cognitive function and quality of life in people with PTSD.

HBOT is the gold standard of treatment for PTSD. It is a safe and effective treatment that can help veterans to heal from their trauma and live full and productive lives.

If you are a veteran who is struggling with PTSD, talk to our Doctors at Clarity Hyperbarics about HBOT. It may be the right treatment for you.

Thank you to all of those who served and all who our currently serving.

-Clarity Team

Dr. Walker Porterfield
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